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Local Pros Teach Middle Schoolers

BERLIN- Over the last few weeks, the Stephen Decatur Middle School Golf Club got some hands on coaching and teaching from some of the top professionals in the area.

The SDMS Golf Club was recently treated to two separate sessions of free golf lessons from local PGA Certified Golf Professionals, Bob Affelder of The Bay Club; Bob Beckelman of Deer Run and John Leighton, director of Instruction at Deer Run. According to Coach Jim Krall, each professional was very eager and more than willing to donate their time and expertise to help the 28 members of the SDMS Golf Club.

On May 11, the club visited the Bay Club in Berlin, where Affelder owns and operates The Original Golf School, as well as Nike Golf Schools and Junior Camps. Affelder’s main focus with the young golfers related to the proper stance, balance, grip, and other aspects of the golf swing. Following the complimentary lesson the players took what they had learned out on the course and practiced the newly learned techniques.

“Bob was very knowledgeable and patient with the kids,” said Krall. “It proved to be a very valuable experience for all players.”

The following week, Beckelman, owner and operator of The Bob Beckelman Golf Academy, gave the club a two-hour clinic on three main aspects of golf: putting, chipping, and iron shots. Beckelman and his assistant, John Leighton, separated the players into three groups to keep the coach to player ratio low. The kids rotated from station to station over the course of the two hours, developing their skills, followed by play on the course to practice what they had learned.

Krall, praised Affelder, Beckelman, and Leighton for their professionalism, generosity, and sincere desire to want to help the young, aspiring golfers in the area. For more information about The Original School of Golf or The Bob Beckelman Golf Academy, contact Coach Krall at kralldad@hotmail.com.